Written answers

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Sexual Offences Data

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

343. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if data is available on the prevalence of sexual violence or harassment in third-level institutions; if so, if he will provide such data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45497/18]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2017 the ESHTE project published Areview of data on the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment of women students in higher education. The report provides an overview of EU level data and research and includes a country level report prepared by the National Womens Council of Ireland. It reported for example that in Ireland 11% of women students surveyed have been subjected to unwanted sexual contact, 5% were rape survivors with further 3% survivors of attempted rape, and 31% of women reported feeling harassed.

All of our publically funded third level institutions provide a range of student-support services, including counselling and health services to their students. In conjunction with these services, the third level institutions support the student unions in their campaigns and initiatives on sexual health for the students.

In recent years a number of the third level institutions have established sexual consent programmes and workshops for their students. These programmes and workshops have a significant positive impact on the students. On 4thOctober 2018 the Minister for State for Higher Education brought together representatives from the higher education institutions, students unions and other stakeholders for a meeting on consent and tackling sexual violence in third level education. The Minister is examining the issues that were discussed at the meeting, and is establishing a working group to devise a toolkit of appropriate initiatives / interventions that would be made available to the Higher Education Institutions to deploy within their institutions.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.